UK surname
A variant of the Irish surname Rowan, derived from the Gaelic "Ó Ruadháin," meaning "descendant of the red-haired one."
In the 1881 census there were 74 people recorded with the Rone surname, ranking it #23,062 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 81, ranked #32,971, down from #23,062 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Great Malvern, Madresfield, St Teath and Worcester St John Bedwardine, Kenswick. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rone is 169 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 9.5%.
1881 census count
74
Ranked #23,062
Modern count
81
2016, ranked #32,971
Peak year
1861
169 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Rone surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Rone surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 79 | #19,712 |
| 1861 | historical | 169 | #13,823 |
| 1881 | historical | 74 | #23,062 |
| 1891 | historical | 147 | #18,592 |
| 1901 | historical | 92 | #23,800 |
| 1911 | historical | 95 | #23,294 |
| 1997 | modern | 57 | #31,917 |
| 1998 | modern | 78 | #30,192 |
| 1999 | modern | 70 | #31,135 |
| 2000 | modern | 64 | #31,735 |
| 2001 | modern | 58 | #32,180 |
| 2002 | modern | 71 | #31,351 |
| 2003 | modern | 73 | #31,186 |
| 2004 | modern | 74 | #31,306 |
| 2005 | modern | 73 | #31,616 |
| 2006 | modern | 66 | #32,629 |
| 2007 | modern | 64 | #33,145 |
| 2008 | modern | 65 | #33,303 |
| 2009 | modern | 65 | #33,611 |
| 2010 | modern | 71 | #33,401 |
| 2011 | modern | 73 | #33,230 |
| 2012 | modern | 75 | #33,263 |
| 2013 | modern | 81 | #32,996 |
| 2014 | modern | 80 | #33,133 |
| 2015 | modern | 82 | #32,911 |
| 2016 | modern | 81 | #32,971 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Great Malvern, Madresfield, St Teath, Worcester St John Bedwardine, Kenswick, St Leonard Shoreditch and Llanhilleth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Great Malvern, Madresfield | Worcestershire |
| 2 | St Teath | Cornwall |
| 3 | Worcester St John Bedwardine, Kenswick | Worcestershire |
| 4 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 5 | Llanhilleth | Monmouthshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Rone surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Rone, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Rone surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Rone household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Rone is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Rone is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Rone, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname RONE is of English origin and can be traced back to the medieval period. It is thought to have derived from the Old English word 'roun,' which referred to a rough or hairy person. This descriptive nickname likely evolved into a hereditary surname over time.
The earliest recorded instances of the RONE surname can be found in various historical records from the 13th and 14th centuries. For example, the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1279 mention a William Roun, while the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327 list a John Rone.
One notable bearer of the RONE surname was Sir John Rone, a prominent landowner and knight from Oxfordshire who lived in the late 15th century. He served as a Member of Parliament for the county in 1472 and 1478.
In the 16th century, the RONE surname was also found in various parts of southern England, particularly in the counties of Somerset, Dorset, and Devon. The Subsidy Rolls of Somerset from 1523 list a Thomas Rone, while the Protestation Returns of Dorset in 1641 mention a Nicholas Rone.
Another notable figure with the RONE surname was Richard Rone, a Puritan minister from Nottinghamshire who lived in the early 17th century. He was a prominent member of the Westminster Assembly, which was responsible for establishing the doctrinal standards of the Church of England.
The RONE surname has also been linked to various place names, such as Rowenhurst in Gloucestershire and Rownall in Staffordshire. These locations may have influenced the spelling variations of the surname over time.
By the 18th century, the RONE surname had spread to other parts of England, as well as to Wales and Scotland. Some notable bearers of the name during this period include John Rone (1714-1789), a renowned scholar and writer from Yorkshire, and William Rone (1745-1821), a successful merchant and philanthropist from Bristol.
Throughout its history, the RONE surname has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including landowners, clergymen, scholars, and merchants. While the name may have originated as a descriptive nickname, it has since become a well-established surname with a rich heritage.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rone surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Gloucestershire leads with 8 Rones recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.65x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Gloucestershire | 8 | 5.65x |
| Middlesex | 8 | 1.11x |
| Bedfordshire | 7 | 18.74x |
| Derbyshire | 7 | 6.20x |
| Shropshire | 7 | 11.23x |
| Herefordshire | 5 | 16.90x |
| Glamorgan | 4 | 3.18x |
| Northumberland | 4 | 3.73x |
| Warwickshire | 4 | 2.20x |
| Cheshire | 2 | 1.26x |
| Essex | 2 | 1.40x |
| Kent | 2 | 0.81x |
| Cambridgeshire | 1 | 2.19x |
| Cumberland | 1 | 1.61x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.67x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.47x |
| Flintshire | 1 | 5.15x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.68x |
| Isle of Man | 1 | 7.46x |
| Kirkcudbrightshire | 1 | 9.57x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 0.43x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.12x |
| Montgomeryshire | 1 | 6.05x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.82x |
| Wiltshire | 1 | 1.57x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.14x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bedford St Peter in Bedfordshire leads with 7 Rones recorded in 1881 and an index of 721.65x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bedford St Peter | 7 | 721.65x |
| Heath | 7 | 7777.78x |
| St Pancras London | 7 | 12.05x |
| Ashperton | 5 | 5000.00x |
| Charlton Kings | 5 | 510.20x |
| Ellesmere | 5 | 467.29x |
| Birmingham | 4 | 6.60x |
| Swansea Higher | 4 | 305.34x |
| Newcastle On Tyne St | 3 | 53.86x |
| Dovercourt | 2 | 400.00x |
| Minchinhampton | 2 | 176.99x |
| Woolwich | 2 | 21.98x |
| Bournmoor | 1 | 294.12x |
| Brighton | 1 | 4.08x |
| Crossmichael | 1 | 303.03x |
| Dukinfield | 1 | 13.59x |
| Ellesmere Penley | 1 | 1250.00x |
| Glasgow | 1 | 2.41x |
| Guilsfield | 1 | 166.67x |
| Hanmer Halghton | 1 | 1000.00x |
| Hasfield | 1 | 1666.67x |
| Hound | 1 | 100.00x |
| Kirkandrews On Esk | 1 | 476.19x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 1.92x |
| Madeley | 1 | 43.67x |
| Marsden In Almondbury | 1 | 153.85x |
| Morpeth | 1 | 79.37x |
| Onchan | 1 | 25.91x |
| Plymouth St Andrew | 1 | 8.64x |
| Shocklach Church | 1 | 1428.57x |
| St Andrewthe Less | 1 | 19.16x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 2.60x |
| Wilton | 1 | 222.22x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Rone surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Rone surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Rone households.
FAQ
In 1881, 74 people were recorded with the Rone surname. That placed it at #23,062 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 81 in 2016. That gives Rone a modern rank of #32,971.
A variant of the Irish surname Rowan, derived from the Gaelic "Ó Ruadháin," meaning "descendant of the red-haired one."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Rone bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.